The
League Guru

Recent Articles by The
League Guru

LAST week was one out of the box with five genuine upsets and another that was an each-way bet going against popular opinion. Round 16 proved to be the perfect storm for punters everywhere and this humble tipping tradesman was torn limb from limb. I stood agog in front of the television all weekend and watched one incorrect pick after another result in the ghastly total of 1 from 7, narrowly avoiding the duck.

THE June 30 deadline for approaching players coming off contract next year is set to expire in a week which means round 16 is the last footy on offer before Rugby League?s homeless are rounded up and paraded about the landscape like a prized bull in the main arena at the Easter Show.

A great weekend of footy has produced a flamboyant, energetic and creative Round 15 League Unlimited Team of the Week. We've got some unexpected choices but all deserving, with a backline that exudes strength, speed and skill, a great halves pairing and some rough and tumble forwards who are arguably the pick of the comp right now. This team is loaded with poise, power and points (78 in total!) and it's anyone's guess as to who could match them on the field after some devastating displays at the weekend.

WHAT a week of footy it?s been! After last week?s round of uncertainty the premiership table is slowing taking shape amongst the mid-season grind. Brisbane are looking fantastic and have created a 4-point buffer to second position during what is traditionally their most difficult time. Last week was a men sorting the boys out exercise, with Manly getting smashed by Souths and Parra belting Newcastle. The Eels are now firming as contenders while the Cowboys took some stick from the Dragons, who look to be the roughie of the comp. And in a dramatic twist, Cronulla appear to be spiralling out of contention with three straight losses and another suspension to Stevens.

ROUND 14 saw some upsets with teams taking advantage of their opposition missing rep players. There were also a few gritty contests with the mettle of a few clubs being tested in their star?s absence. As you?d expect with the results that took place, the Tigers, Bunnies and Eels dominate the Round 14 League Unlimited Team of the Week. There?s plenty of points in this outfit and they?d be unbackable at the TAB is they were running around last week.

AS all clubs now step into the second half of the competition, a few will do so with confidence, some with trepidation, others with fear. Clubs like Souths and Newcastle have resigned themselves to their fate, while Penrith and Canterbury are staring up at an insurmountable task. At the top looking down are Brisbane, Manly and North Queensland, whose only worries appear to extend to the dogfight over whom gets the 100 grand on offer for the minor premiership and Parramatta are strengthening their claims for a top four spot at the expense of Cronulla.